Press



June 25, 1935. J. c. LEDBETTER 2,005,365

PRESS Original Filed Jan. 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR James ('umrad Zed/ affer W ATTO YS June 25, 1935. C LEDBETTE'R 2,005,865

PRESS Original Filed Jan. 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ja me) l'amrod ledfieller ""1 ATTO June 25, 1935. J. c. LEDBETTER 2,005,865

PRESS Original Filed Jan. 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ATTORN Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFIoE PRESS James Camrod Ledbetter, Jackson Heights, Long Island, N. Y., ass'ignor to The Prosperity Cornpany, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y.,v a corporation of v New York Application January 28, 1929, Serial No. 335,476 Renewed October 3, 1933 produce pressure on the work placed therebetween.

. Among other things, I have produced a'single force applying means for separating or moving one jaw straight away from the other, say the press head from the buck, and also for laterally swinging said head to or from the buck to close and open the press; and as an example of the force applying means there is shown a weight which acts vertically downwardly to separate the press jaws and pulls laterally to impart either a closing or counterbalancing force and movement to the press head and operating means connected therewith. Other force applying or counter-balancing 'means such as springs or the like may be employed if desired.

The accompanying drawings show an example of the invention wherein;

Figure 1 shows side view of the press in open position. I

FigureZ shows a side view of the press in closed or partially closed position with the head just above the buck and ready to be moved vertically into contact therewith.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the press head closedover and under compression against the buck.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a. frame 5 on Whicha, buck 6 is supported and a press head I is adapted to coaot with the buck to press or iron the work placed therebetween. The pressing members or jaws 6 and 1 may be heated in any approved manner, and for both garment pressing and laundry ironing work it is usually the practice to pad the buck 6, while for garment pressing alone the head 1 is coveredwith 'a press cloth to avoid shining woolens; and for 'is' connected with the operating means to aid the latter to undergo a smooth back and forth action to open and close the press which occurs (01. 68-9) when the head is lifted and then carried laterally away from the buck or toward it. A swingable upright 9 has its upper end attached tothe press head. i and in this instance reaches around: the

rear of the jaws for that purpose and its lower end is directed intoothe frame and is pivotally mounted below or under the buck on pins on a cross shaft Iii. A handle I I maybe extended from the upright '51 over thepress head! in convenient reach of the operator in front of thepress to either draw the head forwardly over the work or throw the head rearwardly as the case may be, depending somewhaton the type gof pressconstructed and depending on the characteristics of the counterbalancing or force-applying meansi,

The upstanding swingable jaw carrying memher 9 may be constructed in one single piece or made in pairs and then spaced in parallel relation to each other to guide the relatively long movable jaw back and forth in relation to and from the buck. The movable supporting pivot l inreality possesses a compound motion in that it either rotates or the upright 9 rotates thereon tov swing the head open and closed and the pivot I0 also moves vertically to release the jaw compression. The pivot ID is carried by an operating member or movable supporting means 1'7 under or below the jaws to operatively support the head I and upright 9. V

'-As suggested, a movable supporting member or means 11 is operatively mounted in the press frame, say on a frame pivot l3, and consists of any suitable motoror pedal actuating'means to produce jaw compression. In this example of the invention, the prime mover is a pedal 14 made on a lever arm I5. An upstanding link or armv I6 is attached or integrally joined to the pedaland projects upwardly toward the buck. In fact a bell crank [-16 is formed as the'prime mover or motive means to actuate the press, and an. arm I! is integral with the bell. crank and by, which the latter is pivotally mounted in'the frame for bodily up-and-down and swinging motion. The

arm "affords a compound pivotal or'swinging and Lip-and-down movement, or a two in one motion for swingable upright 9 and'jaw I. Hence the juncture of the bell crank arms l5 and Hi,v defined by the pivot H7 or the upright 9; possesses the bodily two-in-One motion action in question. The bell crank with the arm I! and pivots l0 and I3 form pivot means which carries the upright 9 for pivotal and vertical bodily'movement.

A substantially vertically mounted link His pivotally suspended from the frame on agcross shaft or pin!!! and the lower end is pivotally' con-- upright 9.

hence opening the press.

nected at 2| to the upper end of the arm [6. The parts l6 and I9 constitute an upright toggle conveniently disposed in the frame where it is out of the way and pressure from any source applied to the power arm l causes the bell crank l5-l6 to pivot in the frame and causes the fulcrum pin 10 to move downwardly to compress the head 1 against the buck. The toggle I6-l9 straightens with a powerful force transmitting movement and locks the head down onto the buck. The toggle is, therefore, locking means for holding the head 'in closed position.

The frame pivot l3 and upright pivot ID are spaced apart for the purposes just described and to afford vertical movement for the fulcrum point It! to attain vertical jaw separation or movement.

The pivot includes adjustment meansto vertically alter the position of the pivot III in relation to the frame or press jaws to regulate the degree of head pressure on the buck. To this end the shaft 20 is made on or carries a cam 23. The shaft-20 is journaled in the press frame and when turned by a wrench placed in a notched wheel 24 which is anchored'to the cam 23 and shaft, the cam 23 is of course rotated, and the 'togglelink l9 being suspended from the cam, it

follows that the toggle 15-! 6 is raised or lowered an amount equalto the throw of the'cam. Therefore the compound motion fulcrum in 'or the toggle formed by the links I6 and I9, is-adjustably set to effect the proper jaw compression to be exerted by a'downward pull through the Alocking pawl 25 is pivoted at 26 on the frame and has a spring 21 to keep its head seated in the notched wheel to hold the adjustment.

Theupright 9 is weighted above by the head 7 and hence is top heavy and once started will fall rapidly to the rear and carry the head with it,

Moreover, the rear wardly and upper arched portion 9 of the upright 9 is off center to the rear of the pivot 10 and center of gravity of the head 6 and therefore the weight of the arm portion 9 introduces a rearward gravitational force which initiates-or starts the rearward travel of the head. Balancing, -co'unterbalancing or overbalancing means may therefore be introduced to compensate for the unbalanced condition set up by the weight of the head land the arm portion 9, as dejsired.

In the present instance the portion 9* may'remain predominant so as to open the press by gravity when'compression is released.

A' weight suspension support arm or lever 30 is pivoted in-the frame at 3| and has a loose motion pivotal connection 32 with the toggle IG-l9 say at the pivot 2| of the latter and is adapted to transmit or exert a vertical force or lift upwardly on the toggle and hence on the pivot :IO and on the upright '9 and press head 1 to separate the jaws'after the pressing or ironing operation. A pendulum-like weight 33 is fixed to a pendulum rod or link 34 and this pendulum counter-balancing weight 33-34 is suspended at '35 from the lever 30. Hence the dead weight ="of the pendulum pulls upwardly on the toggle pivot 2| to correspondingly lift the head I and remove jaw compression as the toggle l6-l9 breaks from its straight line locked pressure position. Thisvertica'lly applied force is exerted against the vertically disposed links l6 and I9.

Also there is' provided a substantially horizontal link or connecting means 36 between pivot connecting pins 31 and 38 operatively joining the upright'9' to the pendulum balancing means 33-34.

This link 36 imparts a lateral force to the press head 1 and to its supporting arm or frame 9 to either thrust the head rearwardly from the buck or introduce a balancing factor so that the head I will easily draw forwardly to closed position over the buck. It is seen in Figure 1 when in press open position, that the pendulum weight 33-34 is pulling on the head tending to draw it forwardly, but the force exerted by the weight of the head and off-set or arched portion 9 is a little greater than that of the weight 33 so that the press remains open against the tendency of the pendulum counterbalance 33-34 to return to vertical to restore the press to closed position.

The operator lightly pulls on the handle I I to add just enough force to that being exerted by the weight 33 to overcome the inertia of the press head and any unbalanced weight of the head 1 and upright 9 and start it forwardly, whereupon the operating means I5 is then depressed by foot power or otherwise to straighten the toggle IG-I 9 and lock the jaws together under compression.

Having completed the period of pressure on the work, kick-off means is actuated to break the toggle which is accomplished by sliding the pin 2| in the slot 32 and in this wayv the lever30 is connected to the toggle without hampering the free operation of either the toggle or the lever 30. A kick-off arm 40 is pivoted on the cam shaft 20 and has a side lug 4| which impinges the front edge of the toggle link I9 to thrust it rearwardly. A vertical connecting link 44 extends downwardly and a pin 42 connects each end with its operating elements 40 and 43, the latter beinga kickoif pedal 43. The kick-off pedal 43 is in a low position convenient to an operator and thus works the highly located kick-off arm 40 placed where each other, originate in the one means 33, but

perform different purposes as' is well understood and there is no interference in the applicationof the two forces.

Preferably the pendulum 33-34 never quite reaches the vertical as noted in Figures 2 and 3 because it is desired that a lateral forward pull be exerted on the head even after the head reaches overlapping position with the'buck because that action assures the operator that the head is at its forwardly limited position before he applies the necessary force on the operating member 15 to draw the head down and lift the weight 3 3. The weight of the pendulum 33 is just suflicient to overbalance and lift the head to relieve the pressure between the jaws.

toggle breaks and allows it to straighten to proper position and each end of the slot 32 is a stop for the pin-2|. No other stop is required;

It is significant that the head and upright constitutes an inverted pendulum 1-9 and the force applying means 33-34 is a simple pendulum. The two pendulums are connected together so that they pull against and counterbalance each other. The pendulum suspension points l0 and The length of the 1 slot 32 limits the distance through which the other above its suspended moors-pet are'correspondingly located,"oiie*under and the weight.

What'I claim is 1. A-press comprising'aframefacoacting head and buck, an upright having its upper end attachedto 'thehead, a bell crankhaving an arm projecting' therefrom, a frame pivot onwhich the arm is mounted, the lower end of-the upright being pivoted on the bell crank in spaced relation pivotal movement of the upright;

'2. A press comprising a frame, a coacting head and buck, anupright having its-upper end attached to the head, a bell crank having an arm projecting therefrom, a frame pivot on which the arm is mounted, the lower end of the upright being pivoted on, the bell crank in spaced'relation from the frame pivot, a link having its upper end-pivoted onthe frame andits lower end pivotally-connected toth'e bell crank forming a toggle, meansto urge the upright and head upwardly'and to counterbalance the same in the pivotal movement of the upright,and kick-off means to open thepress including means above the bell crank to exert a breaking force on the toggle.

3. A press comprising a frame and'a buck carried thereby, a pedal pivoted in the frame, a head, an'upright having its upper end attached to the head and its lower end pivoted on the pedal below the buck, an upright arm integral with the pedal at a point spaced from'the frame pivot aforesaid'and extending upwardly, alink pivoted on the frame underthebuck and pivotally connected with the upper endof theuupright arm thereby forming a toggle, a toggle breaking arm pivoted on the frame and engaging the upper link to forcibly swing the same, a kick-off pedal pivoted on the frame, and a connection from the kick-off pedal to the toggle breaking arm.

"4. A press comprising a frame, a head and buck thereon, a bell crank pivoted in the frame and including an upright arm andhorizontal arm the latter being pivoted in the frame; an upright head support pivoted on the horizontal arm and attached tothe head, an upright toggle link pivoted in the frame and pivotally connected to the upper end of the upright arm,'a toggle breaking arm pivoted on the frame proximate the upright toggle to engage and break the latter, a kick-off pedal pivoted on the frame proximate the horizontal arm, a vertically disposed link connection between the kick-off pedal and toggle breaking arm, a counterbalance weight and a vertical support therefor, a horizontal lever pivoted in the frame underthe buck and on one end of which the weight and support is suspended, the other end of said lever being connected with the toggle to urge upwardly thereon, and a link connection interposed between the vertical weight support and upright head support to balance the head in operation.

5. In a press, a frame, a buck thereon, a bell crank and an arm integral with the bell crank, a frame pivot on which the arm pivots whereby the bell crank undergoes bodily movement in the frame, a horizontal lever pivoted in the frame below the buck and above the bell crank and connected with the bell crank, force applying means to work the lever to lift the bell crank, an upright pivoted on the bell crank, a press head attached to the upright, and a connection between 'theupright and force applying means to counterbalance the head and upright. 6. In a press, a frame, and a buck thereon, a

presshead an upright to actuate the head to and from-the buck to produce compression, a bell crank pivoted in the frame and on which the upright is pivoted, weight means connected with the bell crank to lift the latter and the head, a connection from the weight means to the upright to counterbalancethe head in operation, an upper link above the bell crank and pivoted on the frame and connected with the bellcrank forming a vertically disposed toggle, a toggle breaking arm pivoted on the frame and having means to engage the upper link, means to swing the toggle breaking arm, and adjusting means cooperating with the frame pivot of the upper toggle to ad- 'just the degree of compression;

7. In a press, a frameand a buck thereon, a press head, an upright to actuate'the head, operating means mounted in the frame to support and to work the upright, a vertical'link attached to the operating means to urge upwardly on" the upright and head, a horizontallever pivoted in the frame and on one end of which is pivotally connected the vertical link, a horizontal link attached to the upright to apply a lateral force thereagainst, and a vertical support and a weight thereon pivotally hanging from the other end of the'horizontal lever and being pivotally con-' nected with the horizontal link.

8. In a press, a frame, a buck thereon, a press head, an upright disposed to the rear-of the frame and attached to the head to actuate the latter, movable supporting means under the buck on which the upright is pivoted, means to actuate the movable supporting means, and a vertical weight carrying support suspended at the front of the frame and a pendulum weight hung thereon, a link connected between the upright and vertical weight carrying support whereby vthe weight is drawnrearwardly as the upright swings rearwardly to apply a lateral force to the head.

9. In a press, a frame, a buck thereon,-a press head, an upright disposed to the rear of the frame and attached to the head to actuate the latter, movable supporting means under the buck on which the upright is pivoted, means to actuate the movable supporting means, a vertical weight carrying support suspended at the front of the frame and a pendulum weight hung thereon, a link connected between the upright and vertical weight carrying support whereby the weight is drawn rearwardly as the upright swings rears eratively support the upright, means to actuate the movable supporting means, a vertically disposed toggle having its upper end pivoted on the frame and its lower end attached to the movable supporting means a lever pivoted in the frame and including a loose motion connection with the toggle, and a weight suspended from the lever adapted to pull downwardly to continuously urge upwardly on the toggle as the latter breaks to lift the head off of the buck.

11. In a press, a frame, a buck thereon, an upright attached to the head, movable supporting means below the buck in the frameto operatlvely support the upright, means toactuate the movable supporting means, a vertically disposed toggle havingits upper'end pivoted on the frame and its lower end attached to the movable supporting means, a lever pivoted in theframe andincluding a loose motion connection with the toggle, arweight suspended from. the lever head, an upright to work the head to open and close the press and produce compression, an operating bell crank including a rearwardly-extending arm, a frame pivot on which the arm is pivoted to support the bell crank for bodily upand-down movement in the frame, one portion of the bell crank extending upwardly and a link connected therewith and pivotedfon the frame under the buck thereby forming a vertical toggle,

said pivot on which the upper end of the vertical'toggle is carried also including means for up-and-down adjustment to regulate the. com- 'pression, a toggle kick-off arm pivoted on the "same pivot carrying the upper end of the toggle,

a "link extending downwardly from the kick-off arm and a pedal connected with the link, a lever pivoted in the frame, a weight hung from the lever, a connection established between the lever andtoggle-to urge upwardly on the head, means affording relative motion between the lever and toggle, and an interconnection made between the weight and head to apply a lateral force thereon. l H

-13. Ina press, a frame and press jaws'carried thereon, operating means to actuate one of the jaws and including a toggle, adjustment rneans for the toggle including a rotary part adapted to move up anddown, a'notched wheel connected to'the part to move the same, and a locking pawl carried on a pivot and having a head engaging the notched wheel to hold the latter to any adjusted position'.- a j 14. In a press, a frame'fa buck thereon, a press head, and operating means therefor to open,

close and produce pressure therebetween, said operating means including a toggle comprising links directly co'nnectedone'with the other, said toggle being pivoted onthe frame and interconnected with the head, stop means for the toggle including an arm pivoted on the frame and having a slot, and a pin which directly connects the links aforesaid and hence carried with the toggle and engaging the slot, the ends of the slot being adapted tostop the breaking and straightening movement of the toggle by engagement ,of the pin at first .one end of the slot and then the otherv end thereof.

15.- In a press, a frame, a buck thereon, a press head, an upright extending downwardly below the head and buck and having its upper end attached to the head, movable supporting means below the buck and on which the upright swings in the manner of an inverted pendulum, a pendulum weight operatively suspendedin the frame, the two pendulums being operatively reversed with the weights acting in opposition to each other, and an interconnection between the two pendulums whereby each pendulum exerts ;,a

force against the other, said interconnection be ing disposed below thepivot of one pendulum and above the pivot ofthe: other pendulum,

916. -A garment-or ironing press comprising, a frame, a buck thereon, an upright carrying a head, pivot means located adjacent the lower end of the frame and carrying the upright for pivotaland vertical bodily movement, means to operate the upright to open and close-thepress; and counterbalancing means-including a vertical supportunder the buck swingably mounted at its upper end with respect to the frame and a counterbalanceweight on the lower endof the vertical support, and means connecting the counter balancing means with the" upright to"counterbalance the pivotal movementthereof.

upper link, and means to swing the toggle breaking arm. V JAMES CAMROD-LEDBETTER. 

